Before leaving for Atlanta, Boeheim reflected on what it means to him to make it back to the game's biggest stage.

"Every time you get there it's special, but it's nothing like the first time and the excitement and the feeling of getting there that first time," said Boeheim Tuesday. "It's hard, it's hard to get there. It's really hard to get there, a lot of great coaches have never gotten there."

Syracuse practiced Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta. There will be one open practice for the public on Friday in the Georgia Dome.